Youth auditions coming for ‘Broadway Movie Musical’ film

Auditions for ‘Broadway Movie Musical,’ a salute to the American musical, will be held Thursday, May 26 in Morgan Hill. The call is open to participants ages 8-21, registration fee is $295 per person and all who audition will be accepted.Photo: Robert Eli

Gilroy youth with dreams of being the next Scream Queen or box-office superstar can get their start in a locally produced film, featuring high-energy musical numbers from Broadway hits like Wicked, Hairspray and Hamilton.

Auditions for Broadway Movie Musical, a salute to the American musical, will be held Thursday, May 26 in Morgan Hill.

The call is open to participants ages 8-21, registration fee is $295 per person and all who audition will be accepted.

“Seeing yourself on the screen in an actual movie theater is a very cool experience for actors of all ages, and we are excited to give local youth an opportunity to participate in this exciting film,” said John Bisceglie, the producer and director of the film.

Participants will get to perform in multiple solo, duet, group and ensemble numbers, with filming taking place in locations across the Bay Area.

The program consists of one rehearsal per week and will be offered in San Francisco, San Jose and Morgan Hill.

A variety of singing, dancing and speaking roles are available for a wide range of ages, talent and levels of experience.

“Some songs we will shoot out on location, and some in the theater in Morgan Hill,” explained Mattie Myers, filmmaker at 152 West Productions of Gilroy, which will be shooting and editing the film.

Cast members will also get to record in a professional recording studio and there may even be some time spent in front of a green screen, said Myers.

This will be the third production Myers has worked on with Bisceglie; she is a fan of his creativity and approach. Her own two sons participated in his youth theater group for 10 years.

“It’s interesting, they have taken what John has taught them and applied it to their older years,” said Myers. “They can get up and talk in front of their class and it’s not a big deal.”

She added: “He teaches kids that what they are doing is important. They learn to be prepared and give it your all—he raises the bar.”

In 1985, Bisceglie founded Gilroy Children’s Musical Theater and worked with the city of Gilroy’s Community Services Department on youth productions.

Myers also worked with Bisceglie on Gleeful, a parody based on the TV series Glee, which included more than 100 local youth and played for 10 weeks at the Cinelux Theatre in Morgan Hill. This was followed up with ROAR! in 2013, a 1920s black and white movie musical that played at San Francisco’s Castro Theater.

“We are like kids in a candy store with him,” said Myers of their collaboration. “It is exciting to be a part of that.”

After filming wraps up and Myers and her team has worked their magic in the editing room, Broadway Movie Musical will premiere in selected Bay Area theaters in January 2017.